The All New 2011 Nissan Quest Minivan

(Last Updated On: November 8, 2019)

Just before the holidays I had the opportunity to test drive the all new, reinvented Nissan Quest Minivan. It’s a luxe re-do of the old classic, coming out later this month. The new version is loaded with surprises that will surely delight families everywhere. Some of the highlights of this vehicle, for me, were:

• Comfortable ergonomic seating and entry/exit designed for everyone in the family, even grandma
• Two tier rear storage – platform above the well makes loading the groceries easier on the back & seperates strollers from your Nordstrom haul
• Ginormous trucker style side view mirrors make lane changes calmer and give me the eyes in the back of my head I always wanted
• Wrap around windows and high ceiling create a light, bright, un-claustrophobic interior
• Oversized DVD player screen turns car into living room and manages not to affect rear visibility
• Really well conceived dash, no fumbling and searching for controls. Everything where you’d want it.
• Smooth, powerful, responsive drive – V6 engine delivers 253 hp which is important for CA highway passing! I felt confident driving this, never had that “slow & dumpy” minivan feel
• Distinctive exterior styling looks more like CUV or SUV. Vaguely reminiscent of  both the “but it’s not a minivan” Mercedes R class body & the “but it’s not as expensive as a Range Rover” Ford Flex. Like the two had a  really cute baby together.

Mileage on the Quest lags slightly behind their main minivan competitors – coming in at 18 city/24 hwy. It’s still better than comparably  sized SUV’s and a lot more comfortable/practical for a family on the go. Pricing starts about $27,500 and tops out around $41,500 for the most fully loaded model imaginable. Nissan has set themselves apart from lookalike Honda Odyssey/Toyota Sienna with this vehicle. They will sure find takers who appreciate their “go your own way” style and fabulous functionality.